San Fernando Cathedral

Posted: 04.22.2025 | Updated: 04.22.2025

Remember the Alamo! 

It’s a battle cry used during the Texas Revolution and has endured centuries of military tradition. It refers to a military engagement fought between thousands of Mexican forces against two hundred American defenders holed up in the Alamo fort. 

Although the Alamo defenders were killed to a man, their legend lived on, as did the legend of a few other San Antonio haunts. One of them, the San Fernando Cathedral, was almost as old as the Alamo itself and has a particular…ghostly history associated with the Alamo.

Continue reading to learn what exactly that refers to and discover all about the strange occurrences and historical events that this Texas cathedral has witnessed over the years. After you’re done, we’re sure you’ll want to learn even more about the ghost stories of the Lone Star State, and the best way to do that is by booking an in-person ghost tour with River City Ghosts.

 Is San Fernando Cathedral Haunted?

Whether you’re a true believer or a true skeptic, it’d be difficult to read all about the centuries-long history of the San Fernando Cathedral and not conclude that something strange is going on here. From the Man in Black to the ghosts of Alamo defenders, the stories that come from here are as larger than life as Texas itself is! 

Cathedral History

The San Fernando Cathedral, like many places in Texas, has a distinctly Spanish influence. It was founded in 1731 by King Phillip V of Spain when, by royal decree, he invited sixteen Canary Islanders to settle in the newly formed San Antonio. 

These settlers needed a cathedral to serve as the new city’s spiritual and geographic center, as Spanish towns typically had a centralized church in the town square. Construction on the San Fernando Cathedral soon began. 

However, despite being formally established in 1731, the actual construction was delayed for many years, and it is thought to have taken seven years to lay the first cornerstone. But even that would not end the delays of its construction, as it was beset by delays and dwindling funds until more money was secured in 1748. Finally, two decades after it was approved, the great stone church was finally built in 1755.

By the time it was finished, it had adopted three patron saints – unusual for a Catholic cathedral – and this was done to combine Old World traditions with New World devotion. Throughout the 19th century, it endured a number of notable incidents such as a flood in 1819, a fire in 1828, and even the Texas Revolution! 

During the Revolution, it was repurposed into a military fort. The infamous Santa Anna mounted cannons on the roof of the cathedral and used the church as a lookout. He even flew a red flag on its tallest tower to let the defenders of the Alamo know that no quarter would be given to them.

These days, it still serves Texas well as the oldest continuously operating religious community in the Lone Star State. It continues to be the site of historical events, such as when it hosted the Pope in 1987. 

Hauntings at San Fernando Cathedral

Besides its rich history, it also has a rich ghostly population. In fact, it’s often referred to as the most haunted church in Texas. There is a theory explaining why it became such a magnet for the supernatural, and it involves an incident that occurred in 1936, just before America officially entered the Second World War. 

During that time, the San Fernando Cathedral was already centuries old and required (and still requires) much renovation to keep it functional for the people of San Antonio. So, it wasn’t at all unusual for there to be a renovation crew on the property that day. 

What was unusual was the fact that the crew unearthed bones, nails, and buttons during their work in the dirt. Equal parts intrigued and disturbed, they dug further and eventually came across fragments of cloth from military uniforms. 

It is thought that these scraps belonged to three Alamo defenders whose remains were entombed inside the Cathedral after the famous battle. However, with their remains having been disturbed, many residents now believe that the ghosts of these Texan soldiers are the ones behind all of the spooky occurrences that the cathedral is known for. 

Some of these incidents range from bizarre to frightening. An example of the latter includes the “shadows” that many people report seeing skulking about. 

While some may dismiss this as tricks of the light, it should be noted that some of these shadowy figures are actually seen at night and on cloudy days, where they’re said to climb on the walls and columns. More disturbingly, there don’t seem to be any bodies around to actually cast the shadows, making it seem like they’re moving independently.

Man in Black and Orbs in the Night 

Speaking of dark, shadowy figures, there’s also the case of the Man in Black (also known as the Shadow Monk), who’s often spotted around the cathedral. He’s normally seen around the back of the cathedral, dressed in anachronistic monk’s clothing (complete with robe and cowl), but, unlike the shadowy climbers, he’s normally motionless. 

Perhaps, he’s a former clergy member, keeping a silent but watchful eye over his old parish. Or, maybe his purposes there are more sinister. In any case, he doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, as he’s one of the most commonly spotted ghosts in the cathedral. 

There’s also the case of the mysterious glowing orbs that also pop up from time to time in the cathedral, usually on the darkest nights of the year. From what people describe them as, glowing orbs about the size of a human fist that seem to float through the air, they are very similar to the will-o’-the-wisp phenomena, which often appear in haunted locations. When you’re alone at night in the cathedral, they, no doubt, make for a very creepy atmosphere. 

However, not all the ghost sightings here are quite so terrifying. There was one rather amusing incident that occurred in the 1990s. A guest visiting the cathedral for a baptism actually set her hairspray-filled hair on fire. 

Some say it happened because she was leaning too close to the prayer candles. Still, others swear it was the ghost of the legendary Alamo defender, Davy Crockett, playing his usual pranks on people, even in the afterlife! 

Haunted San Antonio

Even in death, it seems, the legend of Davy Crockett just can’t contain himself. If you ever explore the haunted cathedral itself, maybe you’ll be able to get a closer look at him. And if you’re lucky, he may even talk to you and tell you about the time he split a bullet in two with the head of an axe!

If you liked this story and want to learn similar tales, check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They spotlight other offbeat ghost stories all over the United States. Checking our blog is another good way to stay up-to-date with all the latest ghost stories and haunted spots in Texas.

If you want to explore San Antonio ghosts up close, a ghost tour with River City Ghosts is the best way to do that. Our guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and can provide even more information on the area. 

Sources:

• https://sfcathedral.org/our-history#:~:text=San%20Fernando%20Cathedral%20was%20founded,of%20life%20in%20this%20city.
• https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/san-fernando-cathedral
• https://www.mysanantonio.com/lifestyle/article/is-san-fernando-cathedral-in-san-antonio-haunted-16318967.php
• https://www.texashauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/san-fernando-cathedral.html